Closer To Heaven
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29 July 2026 | Christian nationalism has emerged as a powerful force in American political life, and its influence has leaked over into other countries, too. It appears as an alliance between conservative Protestants, Roman Catholics and conservative politicians. It is claimed to be based on Jesus’ life and teachings, though it is used to […] Source: https://atoday.org/atss-greg-hamilton-christian-nationalism-calvarys-prophetic-warning/
Still Awake?
July 29
More Than Mere Curiosity
Matthew 2:2“… we have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2
Why did the wise men seek Jesus?
Out of curiosity?
No.
They wanted to worship Him.
That is a great difference.
Many people are interested in Jesus.
They read about Him.
They hear stories.
They ask questions.
But the wise men wanted more.
They wanted to meet Him.
They wanted to give Him the honor that belongs only to a king.
We too can know a great deal about Jesus.
We can know Bible verses.
We can attend church every Sabbath.
And yet our hearts can still be far from Him.
Worship does not begin with songs.
It begins with a decision.
The decision to give Jesus first place in my life.
The wise men traveled many miles to kneel before Jesus.
Perhaps Jesus is not asking you to make a long journey today.
Perhaps He is asking you only:
“May I be the King of your heart?”
Think about ItDoes Jesus have first place in my life—or merely one place among many?
PrayerDear Daddy,
thank You for Jesus, my King.
I do not want merely to know Him, but to follow Him with all my heart.
Show me where I have not yet given Him first place.
Help me to live in a way that honors Him.
Amen.
Sleep well.
Your loving Daddy rejoices over a heart that worships Jesus.
See you tomorrow.
From Babylon to the Eternal Kingdom
Historical, Spiritual, and Prophetic Poems from the Book of Daniel
Chapter 1 – Miniseries 3
Wisdom from Above
When God Blesses the Faithful with Understanding
Poem 5 – God’s Hidden Work How the Lord Shaped His Servants in the QuietMany saw only the success,
the honor before king, court, and people.
They spoke of wisdom, strength, and light,
yet did not see the work of God.
They saw the young men standing there
and heard the answers they delivered.
They marveled at the counsel given,
but not at how the Lord had led them.
For long before the day before the king,
while much remained concealed,
the Lord had faithfully instructed them
and strengthened and sustained their faith.
Even when Jerusalem fell,
God was pursuing a higher purpose.
What human eyes regarded as defeat,
He permitted according to His plan.
When Babylon subdued the city
and Judah sank beneath its sorrow,
to many all seemed lost and hopeless,
as though the power of God had failed.
Yet behind it all stood His counsel,
which never makes a single error.
The Most High quietly governs time
and guides it according to His will.
He already saw the young Daniel
before Babylon had ever conquered.
He knew Hananiah completely,
and Mishael and Azariah too.
The Lord never forgot His own,
through any night or on any road.
Whether in their homeland or far away,
they still remained His own possession.
The long journey through the wilderness,
the days so filled with uncertainty,
were fully known to heaven
and held within God’s fatherly hand.
When Daniel at the royal table
deliberately refused the food,
heaven watched with holy joy
as faithfulness grew in a darkened time.
The world scarcely noticed the conflict
that unfolded deep within his heart.
But God measures differently from the world,
which so often judges outward things.
A quiet prayer in the darkest night
may hold more power than human might.
One faithful choice before God’s throne
outweighs the splendor of a royal crown.
And so God worked from day to day,
although no human eye could see Him.
He strengthened faith and courage and purpose
and placed His wisdom deep within them.
The blessing did not suddenly descend
like rain upon a barren grave.
The Lord shaped them step by step
as He faithfully walked beside them.
He taught them how to practice patience
and remain devoted to His Word.
Through every season He revealed
the worth of faith and steadfastness.
The teachers saw their diligence,
but not the source of their clear minds.
They saw the fruit, but not the hand
that worked invisibly behind it.
The Lord still often works this way,
concealed, yet mighty in His power.
He leads His people day by day,
although the world does not perceive it.
Many desire a visible display,
a sign adorned with glory and splendor.
Yet God’s greatest work within this world
is often done in silence deep within us.
He shapes our thoughts, our hearts, our minds,
and plants His character within.
He teaches trust amid distress
and faithfulness toward His commands.
Daniel did not become in one day
the man he later proved to be.
The Lord prepared him over many years
for all his service at the royal court.
For soon the dreams would come
that no one there could understand.
And Babylon would come to recognize
the One whom heaven and earth proclaim.
But before God reveals great things,
He often works through long and silent nights.
Before the fruit appears upon the tree,
the roots are planted deep beneath the soil.
Thus God honored the faithful there,
not only through their wisdom and their words.
He shaped their characters with care
that they might be instruments of heaven.
For knowledge without faith will pass
like dust driven onward by the wind.
But those who build upon God’s truth
stand firm when every earthly support falls.
The Most High continues working unseen
through every age and in every place.
And what appears insignificant to others
God may have long prepared for victory.
Thus Daniel’s life shines clearly still,
not merely through what others saw,
but through the quiet power of God
that turns faithfulness into blessing.
Prophetic Reflection God’s greatest works often begin in secret. Before He entrusts people with public responsibilities, He first works upon their hearts. In God’s kingdom, outward achievement is not the beginning; inward transformation is. The Lord shapes character before He transfers responsibility. What later becomes visible before many eyes usually arises from long seasons of prayer, faithfulness, and quiet growth.
Daniel was not first prepared when he stood before King Nebuchadnezzar. God’s school had begun much earlier—on the painful road to Babylon, when he lost his homeland, in the daily life of a foreign culture, and in the seemingly small decisions that no one noticed. When the king’s food was placed before him, he chose to remain faithful to God. While others may have seen only an insignificant everyday situation, God recognized the beginning of a character upon which He could later depend.
Day after day, Daniel learned to trust God even when no one was watching. He remained faithful in prayer, studied God’s Word, and conscientiously fulfilled the duties entrusted to him. Those hidden years were not a time of waiting, but a time of divine training. Every step of obedience prepared him for greater trials and greater responsibilities.
Heaven works patiently upon character. God rarely acts in haste. Just as a gardener tends a tree for many years before it bears abundant fruit, so the Lord develops endurance, humility, faith, and wisdom in the lives of His children. Many of these processes remain invisible to others. Yet God sees every faithful prayer, every temptation overcome, and every decision for what is right. None of it is ever lost before Him.
When Daniel finally stood before the most powerful king of his age, God did not need to create a new character. He simply revealed the character He had been shaping throughout the years. The wisdom, peace, and strength of faith that now became visible were the result of long fellowship with God. Great heroes of faith are not formed in a single moment, but through countless small decisions of faithfulness.
From a Seventh-day Adventist perspective, this also serves as a picture of God’s end-time people. The Lord does not begin preparing His church only when the final prophetic events unfold. Even now, the Holy Spirit is working upon all who are willing to be transformed by Christ. The character shaped during times of peace will become visible in times of trial. Therefore, every day is an opportunity to allow God to continue His work within us.
Even today, God’s most important work often takes place far from public attention. Many believers serve faithfully without their efforts being noticed by others. They pray, help, learn, forgive, and remain loyal to God even through difficult times. The world may scarcely take notice, yet in heaven no act of love and no step of faith is forgotten. When God’s appointed time arrives, what He has accomplished in secret will be revealed. Not human recognition, but God’s completed work will then be made manifest.
Therefore, we may remain patient even when our service appears small or insignificant. God wastes no experience. Every trial, every quiet act of faithfulness, and every step of obedience forms part of His preparation. Those who allow Christ to shape them today will be ready tomorrow for the responsibilities God entrusts to them.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
Bible Stories to Marvel At
Job Chapter 33 – Elihu Speaks Directly to Job
When God Speaks in Hidden Ways
IntroductionElihu had remained silent for a long time. He was younger than Job and his three friends, so he had listened first. He wanted to give the older men room to speak. But when Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar could no longer find a real answer and still condemned Job, Elihu could no longer remain silent.
In the previous chapter, Elihu had explained why he now wanted to speak. He was angry with Job because, in his eyes, Job defended himself too strongly. But he was also angry with the friends because they could not truly help Job and yet still declared him guilty. Elihu did not want to flatter anyone, but to speak honestly.
Now Elihu turns directly to Job. His speech begins in a more personal way than the speeches of the three friends. He asks Job to listen to him. He says that his words are sincere and that, like Job, he is a human being created by God. He does not want to crush Job with fear, but to speak with him.
Then Elihu introduces an important thought: Job has said that he seeks God, but God does not answer him. Elihu now says: Perhaps God does speak, but people do not always notice it. God can speak in different ways – through dreams, warnings, suffering, a messenger, and deliverance.
This chapter tells us that God’s voice sometimes comes differently than people expect. Elihu shows that God does not simply want to destroy a person, but to call them back, protect them, and save them. His words open a new question: Could it be that God is working even where a person first sees only darkness?
The Biblical Story
Elihu Asks Job to ListenElihu begins his speech by addressing Job directly. He asks him to hear his words and pay attention to everything he is about to say. After the many speeches of the friends, this sounds at first like another attempt to reach Job.
But Elihu does not simply want to give another harsh speech. He says that he has opened his mouth and that his tongue is now speaking. He had waited for a long time. Now his words are coming out.
For young and grown-up hearts, this beginning is important. When speaking with someone who is suffering, we should not merely talk about them. We should look at them, take them seriously, and speak to them directly. Elihu tries to genuinely invite Job to listen.
Whether his words will truly help Job remains to be seen. But Elihu does not begin with a list of accusations like Eliphaz did in chapter 22. He begins with the request: Listen to me.
Elihu Says That He Wants to Speak SincerelyElihu explains that his words are to come from an upright heart. He does not want to deceive, distort, or flatter. What he knows, he wants to say clearly and honestly.
That is a high standard. Words about God and suffering must be spoken carefully. Anyone speaking to a person like Job must not speak carelessly. Job is wounded, sick, and exhausted. A wrong word can burden him even more.
Elihu says that his lips will speak pure knowledge. He does not simply want to be loud, but truthful. He does not merely want to win, but to explain.
Yet true sincerity is shown not only by whether someone honestly means what they say. It is also shown by whether the words are truly wise, humble, and appropriate. Therefore, we listen carefully to Elihu.
Elihu Reminds Job That God Created HimElihu says that the Spirit of God made him and that the breath of the Almighty gives him life. In this way, he does not place himself above Job, but reminds him: I too am a human being who lives because of God.
Every breath is a gift. No one lives by their own strength. Whether young or old, rich or poor, healthy or sick – every person depends on God.
For children, we could say: We breathe without having to create every breath ourselves. Our life comes from God. He made us and keeps us alive.
Elihu is also saying: Job, I am not an unreachable judge standing above you. Like you, I am one of God’s creatures. This is important because Job had often felt crushed by his friends. Elihu wants to approach him differently.
Elihu Does Not Want to Overwhelm Job with FearElihu invites Job to answer him if he can. He presents himself as ready for an honest conversation. Then he says something comforting: He too was formed from clay before God, just like Job.
The image of clay reminds us that human beings are fragile. A clay vessel can be beautiful, but it is not indestructible. Human beings are the same: valuable, yet weak.
Elihu goes on to say that his terror will not frighten Job and that his hand will not weigh heavily upon him. He does not want to pressure Job as though he were an overpowering opponent.
This makes his opening different from that of the friends, who had often treated Job like a guilty man. Elihu wants to say: I have not come to crush you. I have come as a fellow human being to speak with you.
Elihu Repeats What He Has Heard from JobElihu then summarizes what he has heard in Job’s words. Job has said that he is pure, free from serious wrongdoing, and yet God finds reasons to act against him. Job has complained that God treats him like an enemy and places his feet in the stocks.
Elihu therefore focuses especially on the passages in which Job defends his innocence and experiences God’s actions as harsh. He wants to respond to this.
Job had indeed often said that his friends falsely accused him. He had also honestly expressed that God’s way seemed dark and incomprehensible to him. He felt oppressed and unheard.
Elihu sees a problem in this. He believes that Job is not speaking correctly at this point. Therefore, he will now explain that God is greater than humanity and that God does indeed speak.
God Is Greater than HumanityElihu tells Job that God is greater than man. This sounds simple, but it is a very great thought. Human beings see only a small section. God sees the whole.
A child may see only one tiny part of a tapestry and not understand its pattern. From above, much more can be seen. It is similar with God’s perspective. Human beings see one thread of their story. God sees the entire design.
Elihu wants to remind Job: You cannot simply bring God into court like another human being and demand that He answer according to your expectations. God is higher than we are.
But God’s greatness does not mean that He is without compassion. This is exactly what Elihu now wants to show: God is greater, but He is not silent. He speaks, warns, and saves.
Why Does Humanity Contend with God?Elihu asks why Job contends with God because God does not answer every word. For Elihu, it is clear that people must not think God is required to answer immediately in the exact way they demand.
This is a difficult truth. When we suffer, we long for quick answers. We want to understand why something is happening. We want God to bring light immediately.
Job knows this longing very well. He has searched for God and has not found Him. He has called out and heard no answer. His heart is weary from waiting.
Elihu now says: Perhaps God answers differently than you think. Perhaps God does not always speak in the form you expect. Perhaps there are ways of God that people do not recognize at first.
God Can Speak through DreamsElihu explains that God speaks in different ways. Sometimes He speaks in a dream or a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon people. Then God can open a person’s ear and warn them.
The Bible contains many stories in which God speaks through dreams or messages at night. People sleep, but God is awake. People are silent, but God can reach their hearts.
For children, we might carefully imagine it like this: Sometimes God places something deeply in a person’s heart so that they wake up and think differently about their path. God can make us pay attention when we are walking toward danger.
Elihu wants to show that God is not always silent in the way it may seem. He can speak even when a person is not expecting a loud voice.
God Warns People So That They Turn from the Wrong PathElihu says that through such warnings God turns people away from their actions and protects them from pride. God therefore speaks not to frighten people, but to save them.
Pride can be dangerous. A proud person thinks they need no advice, no correction, and no God. They continue on even when the road leads into danger.
But God wants to hold a person back. He wants to protect them from the abyss. Elihu says that God preserves a person’s soul from the pit and their life from the sword.
The image is clear: God stands in a person’s way so they do not fall into the depths. A warning can be uncomfortable, but it can save a life.
God Can Also Use Suffering to Draw AttentionThen Elihu speaks of a person who is disciplined by pain upon their bed. Their bones ache, their body is weak, and they lose all desire for food.
This description strongly resembles Job’s own condition. Job knows pain, sickness, sleeplessness, and physical weakness. Therefore, Elihu’s words must have touched him deeply.
Elihu does not simply say that every pain is punishment for a specific sin. Rather, he shows that suffering can be a place where God addresses a person, warns them, or calls them back.
This is a thought that must be handled carefully. Not every kind of suffering should be explained quickly. Job’s friends made that mistake. But Elihu wants to show that God does not have to be absent even in suffering. He can work there too.
When Even Bread No Longer Tastes GoodElihu describes how a sick person no longer wishes to look at bread and even finds favorite foods repulsive. Their flesh wastes away, their bones become visible, and their life draws near to the pit.
This is a very serious description of illness. The person who once ate, laughed, and worked becomes weak. What once brought joy loses its brightness.
For Job, this was not merely an image. It was his reality. He had described his body as sick, broken, and full of pain.
Elihu leads Job to a painful point. But he does not stop there. After describing the sickness, he speaks of a messenger and of deliverance.
A Messenger Can Show the Way of DeliveranceElihu says that there may be a messenger, a mediator, one among a thousand, who shows a person what is right for them. This is a very hopeful thought.
A mediator is someone who stands between two sides and helps make deliverance possible. Earlier, Job had longed for someone who could stand between him and God, for a witness in heaven and for a Redeemer.
Now Elihu speaks of a messenger who shows a person the right way. This messenger does not merely explain guilt, but opens a door to grace.
For young and grown-up hearts, this is a bright image: When a person is weak and appears close to death, God can still reveal a way of deliverance. God does not seek a person’s destruction, but their restoration.
God Says: Deliver HimElihu describes God having mercy on the person and saying: Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom. This is one of the brightest thoughts in the chapter.
Here, God’s mercy shines through. God is not only the Judge who sees what is wrong. He is also the Savior who makes a way so that a person will not be lost.
The word ransom means that something is given so that someone may go free. A person who cannot escape on their own receives help from outside.
Job had said: My Redeemer lives. Elihu’s words likewise remind us that God can save. Even though Elihu has not yet explained everything, he shows that God’s purpose can be deliverance rather than destruction.
From Weakness Can Come New LifeElihu describes what happens when God saves a person. Their body becomes fresh again like that of a child. They return to the days of youthful strength. The picture is full of hope.
After sickness, weakness, and nearness to death, God can give new life. The person who seemed almost lost is raised up again. They are allowed to see light once more.
For children, we could imagine a plant that had almost dried up. Then it receives water, slowly rises again, and grows fresh green leaves. This is how Elihu portrays God’s deliverance.
These words carry a special sound in Job’s story. Job is still sitting in suffering. But Elihu shows a possibility: God can lead a person out of deep weakness.
The Rescued Person Prays Again with JoyElihu says that the person prays to God and God is favorable to them. They see God’s face with joy, and God restores righteousness to them.
This is a wonderful picture of reconciliation. The person is no longer filled only with fear. They are allowed to look toward God again with joy. The relationship becomes bright once more.
Job had longed to find God. He wanted to stand before Him and be heard. Elihu now describes a person who is once again able to meet God with joy.
This hope is not yet a complete answer to Job’s suffering. But it shows that God’s way with people can aim toward restoration.
The Person Tells of God’s DeliveranceElihu says that the rescued person sings before others or confesses: I sinned and perverted what was right, but I did not receive what I deserved. God has redeemed my soul, and my life sees the light.
This is the testimony of someone who has experienced God’s grace. They do not hide the fact that they needed help. They admit that God rescued them.
For young and grown-up hearts, this is important: Anyone who experiences God’s help may tell others about it. Not proudly, but gratefully. Not to make themselves great, but to reveal God’s mercy.
In this way, Elihu presents a path: God speaks, warns, saves, restores, and the person recognizes His grace.
God Works More than OnceElihu says that God does all this two or three times with a person in order to bring their soul back from the pit and enlighten them with the light of life.
This shows God’s patience. God does not call only once and then immediately stop. He seeks people again and again. He warns, calls, opens paths, and gives light.
Sometimes people need several reminders before they wake up. Sometimes they do not understand God’s voice the first time. But God is patient and merciful.
These words give the chapter a hopeful direction. Elihu wants to show that God is not silent and not merely severe. He works to lead people away from the abyss and back into the light.
Elihu Once Again Asks Job to ListenAt the end, Elihu once again asks Job to listen carefully. If Job has something to say, he should answer. Elihu says that he would gladly justify Job if he could. If not, Job should remain silent and continue listening so that Elihu may teach him wisdom.
These words are mixed. On the one hand, Elihu invites Job to answer. He does not act as though Job is not allowed to say anything. On the other hand, Elihu sounds very certain that he can teach Job wisdom.
We notice that Elihu brings new thoughts. He speaks more about God’s voice and God’s deliverance than the three friends did. Yet his speech also remains serious and challenging.
For Job, this moment is certainly not easy. Once again he must listen, examine, and endure. But the story continues moving forward. Later, God Himself will speak.
God Can Speak in Hidden WaysThis chapter shows an important truth: God does not always speak in the way people expect. He can work through dreams, warnings, sickness, messengers, deliverance, and new light.
This does not mean that we may quickly explain every form of suffering. Job’s friends have shown how dangerous that is. But Elihu reminds us that God is not powerless even on dark paths.
God sees the person who is in danger. He does not simply want to let them fall. He calls, warns, and saves so that life may see the light again.
For young and grown-up hearts, the question remains: Do I listen only to what I understand immediately, or am I willing to trust God even on hidden paths?
What This Chapter ShowsThis chapter shows that Elihu speaks directly to Job and introduces himself as a human being who, like Job, was created by God. He does not want to crush Job with fear, but to explain to him that God is greater than humanity.
This chapter also shows that God can speak in different ways. Elihu mentions dreams, warnings, suffering, a messenger, and deliverance. His purpose is to show that God wants to bring people back from the abyss and give them the light of life.
SummaryIn Job chapter 33, Elihu speaks directly to Job and asks him to listen. He explains that he wants to speak sincerely and that, like Job, he was created by the Spirit of God. Elihu repeats what he has heard from Job: Job feels innocent and believes that God is treating him like an enemy. Elihu responds that God is greater than humanity and does not always answer in the way people expect. God can speak through dreams, warnings, and even suffering. Elihu describes a sick person who is close to death but is rescued through a messenger and God’s mercy. God says: Deliver him so that he does not go down into the pit. In this way, Elihu shows that God’s purpose can be deliverance, restoration, and new light.
A Message for Young and Grown-up Hearts TodaySometimes we do not understand God’s voice immediately. We long for clear answers, but God can also speak to us through quiet, hidden, or unexpected ways. Therefore, we need a listening heart.
We also learn that God does not simply want to destroy people. He calls, warns, saves, and leads them back into the light. When we are weak or have lost our way, we may hope that God knows paths of grace.
Questions for Reflection
Why does Elihu ask Job so clearly to listen to him?
In what different ways can God speak according to Elihu’s words?
Why is it comforting to know that God wants to lead people back into the light?
Invitation to Job Chapter 34
Elihu Speaks about God’s JusticeElihu has explained to Job that God can speak in hidden ways. Sometimes God speaks through warnings, suffering, a messenger, and deliverance so that a person does not go down into the pit.
Now Elihu will continue speaking. He will invite his listeners to examine together what is right. He wants to show that God never acts unjustly.
How can we hold on to God’s justice when life is difficult to understand?
Come along and discover the next chapter!
Teaser for Job Chapter 34
When God’s Justice Does Not WaverElihu will now speak about God’s justice. He says that God does not act wickedly and that the Almighty does not pervert justice.
Why does Elihu invite his listeners to examine what is right?
What does he say about God’s justice?
And why does it still remain difficult to understand suffering correctly?
In the next chapter, we will hear Elihu’s serious words about God’s righteous actions and the question of how people should speak about God.
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